Coupon Burnout: Overcoming the Guilt of NOT Couponing

In addition to people who hate couponers, there’s a segment of shoppers who feel guilty that they don’t coupon. What to do if you have a bad case of Coupon Burnout.

I’m part of a lovely book group, and many of the women were in my January coupon workshops. Last night was a get-together and when a couple of the women who I haven’t seen in a while saw me, they told me they fell off the coupon bandwagon, or that they just can’t do it, or that they just can’t shop like I do. The guilt was palpable and it made me uncomfortable.

If you hop from store to store and feel your heart racing when you find products for free with coupon, you are heading for Coupon Burnout. Then, you’ll quit couponing and the guilt will set in. Stop the silly cycle of burnout and guilt. Take it slow! (Photo credit: Hotcouponworld.com)

I am not sure if they still think I’m an extreme couponer (I’m so not). When I told them that I don’t use coupons every time I shop, they were shocked! I only use coupons when I see a great deal that’s on sale that matches my coupons (i.e.: free containers of Wet Ones wipes at ShopRite this week–we use them all summer on our boat and at the beach so of course I’ll grab four to eight of them!). But folks…there’s no need to feel guilty if you DON’T use coupons, for heaven’s sake! If not couponing works for you, then that’s completely okay!

The guilt is going to set in soon since a new season of TLC’s “Extreme Couponing” show begins end of May. Inevitably, more people will ask me how to coupon, more people will go nuts with coupons, and then they stop couponing. Just like the women who went to my workshops. They have a case of Coupon Burnout. The trick is not to use every coupon you see in every store you shop. It’s a matter of what you need, what you want, what’s on sale, and if you have the coupons to stock a few of the same product (so you don’t have to go out and get one full price).

A bit of guilt is normal after going gangbusters on couponing. But that phase should last a short time. Just enjoy coupons, enjoy what you buy, and stop feeling guilty every time you see me :–)

~Marilyn, TFF

Related articles

• Extreme Couponing Myths (savings.com)

Why I Still (Sometimes) Love PriceRite

I’ve had sort of a love/hate relationship with PriceRite. Loved it when it opened, hate it now that prices are going up. But there are still a few things I go there to get that I can’t get a better deal on elsewhere. Or, should I say, the same products cost more at its sister store ShopRite…

These exact same groceries cost me $7.39 at PriceRite, and would have cost me $10.67 at ShopRite (assuming none of the items were on sale). It's worth the savings to go to PriceRite for items my family uses and loves when I'm in the area so I don't waste my savings on gas.

For example, I went there today to get my PriceRite staples: seltzer, Portuguese bread and honey pretzels. We drink a lot of seltzer in our house (in place of soda)–we add juice to seltzer, we drink it plain, we just love it. But the same bottles that go for .39 cents at PriceRite go for .50 cents at ShopRite (but they’ve been on sale for .33 cents a bottle at ShopRite, too). I’ve even found the seltzer for .25 cents a bottle at PriceRite when I hit it just right. My kids love the Chaves Portuguese bread, but it’s a full dollar more for the same exact package at ShopRite. The honey pretzels are $1.29 at PriceRite and normally $1.69 at ShopRite (but I’ve found them for sale for a buck a bag at ShopRite, too). So, though I don’t make it to PriceRite nearly as often as I used to, the store still has some expected, and some unexpected deals, enough to keep me going.~Marilyn, TFF

Couponers Find Stop & Shop and ShopRite Less Expensive Than PriceRite

The gap between food prices at PriceRite and ShopRite/Stop & Shop is quickly narrowing.

The other day during my coupon group exchange, I sat in and listened to one person say that she wanted to go to PriceRite instead of a store that accepts coupons. (PriceRite is the sister store to ShopRite—and PriceRite is a no-frills store that doesn’t accept coupons. Read more about how to shop at PriceRite here.) I agree, sometimes couponing is a hassle and it’s nice to just walk into a store that does not accept coupons and not feel the coupon-stress.

ShopRite's sales often beat the price of its budget store, PriceRite. (United States) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I’ve written numerous posts about PriceRite and how much I love the store. There are certain items I will buy there (Italian breads, non-organic fruits, seltzer, some ice creams). But its prices are slowly going up, too. It’s not as inexpensive to shop there as it once was, and, if you are couponing, you will soon sadly realize PriceRite may not be the bargain basement of grocery stores anymore.

Here are a couple of quick comparisons this week (3-25th):

PriceRite:

-Pepperidge Farm Goldfish: $1.99

-Selter .39 cents each lowest

-Sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg

Versus

-Stop & Shop: Pepperidge Farm Goldfish on sale BOGO (no -coupon) $2.39 for 2 ($1.20 each)

-ShopRite: seltzer 3 for $1 (no coupon)

-ShopRite: Same sugar free chocolate popsicles .99 cents a pkg (no coupon)

The other week I noted many, many more deals at both Stop and Shop and ShopRite that cost less money than the fixed prices at PriceRite. As long as you study the circulars and use coupons on top of sales, you will usually come out spending less money at the mainstream stores than you will at PriceRite.

Marilyn, TFF

Cash-Only Challenge Diary: March 2012

So…where is all this extra cash coming from?

Seriously.

This isn’t all about using cash, however. It’s about budgeting, too.

But I’ll disclose this: um, errrr, I sorta used my debit card this week. Gulp. The good thing: I was extremely conscious of how much I was buying/pumping gas, etc. so I was able to stay in the budget I set. That means: $25 for my gas, $60 for my husband’s gas, $75 for food (happily including lots of fruits–including organic strawberries from Shoprite–and vegetables and yes, thank goodness for coupons from our local coupon exchange club), $20 for “blow cash,” allowance, etc. It all worked out, and I was able to eliminate yet another annoying little debt with what was “extra.”

No doubt, I will come up against one of those days/weeks/months where this carefully planned budget will fall apart–at least I’m anticipating it! What I’m loosely planning is that I’ll have to rearrange the budget, take a little from here, nip and tuck there, and crossing fingers it’ll all balance. Gail Vaz-Oxlade would be proud. (she likes those balanced budgets!).

I will get back to putting cash into my wallet. Starting Monday! Why is this so difficult? My head knows how bad it is to continue on this path of debit card use. But, it’s clearly a habit to NOT use cash, which is why it’ll take time to get into the habit of only using cash. Anyhow, Monday morning first thing, off to the bank I go for cash.

I will post again in two weeks!

~Marilyn, TFF

Organic Strawberries Now on Sale at Shoprite (and Stop & Shop)

You may not be able to see the difference between conventional and organic strawberries. Image via Wikipedia

Why is the $3.49/lb sale for organic strawberries at Shoprite in Fairfield a great price?

Organic strawberries can be found as one of the “Dirty Dozen” list for being one of the most pesticide-laden produce, according to the Environmental Working Group. Download the app or wallet-sized list here: http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/guide/

But do you know why it’s on that list? Conventional strawberries are sprayed with a chemical called Methyl Iodide, a most deadly pesticide. Methyl Iodide is the chemical scientists have used to deliberately cause cancer in laboratory cells for research purposes. That is how powerfully dangerous it is! Experts are calling for its ban in agricultural practices.

Until then, Frugal Fairfielders, head to Shoprite for your organic strawberries this week!  It happens to be $.50 cheaper than Stop and Shop’s sale price.

Better yet, learn how to grow strawberries yourself.  It’s on my list to try, but that is for a post for another day…

~Aimee, TFF

February 2012- The First Three Weeks on Cash-Only Budget

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Time for a cash budget. (Photo credit: 401K)

It’s been a long time coming to use cash for food, gas, clothing, and entertainment. I’ve been religiously watching Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s show, “Till Debt Do Us Part,” and eyeing those money jars. It just makes sense. But, I never did anything about it.

But one day, I realized my grocery budget was creeping upward, even with couponing. What the heck was I doing wrong? Using a debit card and not using a solid budget–that’s what I was doing wrong.

I drew up a serious budget (much harder than it sounds, it takes t-i-m-e, but it’s essential). In my budget–$75 cash for groceries, $25 a week cash for gas in my car (my husband uses more, but I work from home), $20 miscellaneous or “blow money,” per Dave Ramsey. That’s only the cash part of the budget.

I didn’t use jars, but I did use basic envelopes, which proved too cumbersome as I went through my week.  I ended up labeling two pockets of my wallet. One pocket says “Gas” and the other says “Groceries” and that’s where I keep the money.

Some highlights:

1. Week One: I was filmed for Channel 12 News (not aired as of yet) on a shopping trip at Stop & Shop in Fairfield–it was an extra shopping trip that week and I shelled out an extra $54.00. To balance the budget, I decided to reduce my grocery budget for two weeks.

2. Week Two: Did relatively well, was able to buy about four pounds of expensive organic ground beef because I used some Catalina coupons from ShopRite thanks to some great deals I put together. By week’s end, I spent an extra $10 at Whole Foods when I found a couple of extra deals. It’s only $10, you say, but you know how the psychology on this works … “it’s ONLY $10….” turns into “it’s ONLY $20 and so on…” But, it’s like a diet, you make peace with yourself and get back on the program.

3. Week Three: So, it’s now Saturday, one day into my third week of cash only, and I have spent my reduced cash budget. But, we have plenty of food and will only need some fruit and veggies–but it’s extra money.

But so far, it’s great, I love it, and I see where my money goes and it gives me great hope. I spent $200 so far in three weeks–not too terrible in an affluent town like Fairfield.

Stay tuned.

~Marilyn from TFF